After I finally found the video, I have to say that Officer Horn is just a full on DICK. Every officer there was pathetic in his line of reasoning and they ALL need education and training. Upon further contemplation, I think maybe Bess SHOULD have done what he did for, YES, the express purpose of baiting. This city needs an enema. I have had MANY encounters with LEO, and nothing of this disgusting "caliber" has ever occurred. The Washington MO PD is an embarrassment to its community and that loudmouthed, fat asshat Horn is one of the worst cops I have ever seen on video. What a piece of southern white trash, I am surprised that his uniform has sleeves on it.
Bess, I think you did talk too much, but that was alot of crazy intimidating pressure. I am surprised that you found so many good responses with that many officers yelling at you. But I think next time, you might be better served to take the CheckpointUSA (on youtube) approach, stonewall and keep asking "Am I under arrest, Am I being detained, what crime do you suspect I have committed?" etc. I know it is hard when you are being INTERROGATED for performing a lawful act, but I seem to shut them down faster by refusing to "chat" with them or trade verbal volleys.
And I had to send an email to the mayor at
slucy@ci.washington.mo.us:
"As a resident of the state of Missouri and a veteran of the US Army, I am appalled at the embarrassing response of the Washington, MO PD to an open carry advocate. These officers, including a state trooper, purport to be defenders of the Constitution, in fact, likely swore an OATH to do the same, yet they yell and interrogate a citizen acting LEGALLY while making assertions about their authority that are not true, such as the right to demand his identity while unable to articulate suspicion of a crime. The supreme court has already ruled that simply being armed does NOT in fact indicate a reasonable suspicion of a crime, regardless of whether or not it was called in by some nervous citizen, as long as there was no legal or suspicious activity, and being armed is NOT a suspicious activity.
Officer Horn was especially abrasive and unprofessional and reflects VERY poorly on the city. You let your officers speak that way to citizens (subjects???)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g71VfyHiWPA
And the Police Chief Hahn needs to get a copy of the Constitution. He is a tyrant in the making and an enemy of the Constitution if he continues down the path of removing the ability of upstanding citizens from being armed.
Is your city not located in a state that has joined the union and approved the Constitution as the supreme law of the land?? Seems many on the city payroll aren't aware what the Constitution actually says or means. What a pathetic place to live. You must be proud of your position as its leader... Even Kansas City, home of Emmanuel Cleaver, knows better.
If these are things that already bother you, and you have already put wheels in motion to rectify these affronts to liberty, I applaud and will support you. Otherwise, enjoy your little corner of future Nazi Amerika.
If I speak strongly and angrily, it is because I hope to effect change with words. The only other option is unthinkable, and I desperately hope to avoid the civil unrest that this country is rocketing its way toward. Please help us all avoid the future that Obama and his tyrannical cronies in BOTH parties have planned for us.
Humbly and independently,"
Probably pointless, possibly rude if the mayor is a 2A advocate, but I am sick of speaking politely. We must become more verbally aggressive if we wish to avoid being physically defensive... read the founding fathers and you will see what I mean. Their letters were extremely rude and to the point for the time they were written in. People must know that we are serious. Unfortunately, strong words were not enough in George Washington's time. Maybe we will have more luck. I sure hope so...